Sanyo VHR-9440 eating tape

Hi. We have a Sanyo 9440 stereo vcr, which is a few years old, but hasn't been used much at all. It has worked fine until just recently, when it started mangling tapes. It has never been bumped or dropped, and has stayed in its same position while we've had it. Machine is clean, and there has never been anything in it to foul the heads or drive system. Why do you think it is now starting to weird-out on us? Steve Slezak (spcv1@netzero.net)

The head cleaner you mention is the type I used to make sure the innards were okay. I haven't tried playing a tape since I ran the cleaner tape, though..I was afraid it might get tangled in the machine. Thanks. SS

The head cleaner you mention is the type I used to make sure the innards were okay. I haven't tried playing a tape since I ran the cleaner tape, though..I was afraid it might get tangled in the machine. Thanks. SS

Most likely it hasn't been used enough. You see the rubber parts that drive the tape get dry and can develope small hairline cracks. It can be fixed. But it would be a lot cheaper to just get a newer machine. You could also try a WET TAPE cleaner-ASOP makes a good one-radio shack still carries it. It cleans the entire path of the tape (all the rubber rollers and metal parts that the tape comes into contact with). When it is done you may have to run it again. Just wait 20 min after you are done before testing a tape in it (stuff needs to dry inside). If that don't work-buy a new one- they're cheap enough this days.

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You can't press enter without the remote. Your only hope is to go on eBay and search for the very same remote control. Be patient and check for a couple of weeks if you have to. Especially now that it's Christmas a lot of people will be selling their old remotes on eBay.

Your end of tape sensor is not working. Notice the beginning and end of each tape is clear? That is to allow IR (infared light) which you cannot see with out special stuff, into the area near the left and right of the cassette. Usually they look like a tiny light bulb wit a left and right side. Radio SHack carrys IR detectors cheap.

Wow! This is the first Y2K question I've heard in a while. I doubt there's any way to change the year, but there might be a workaround. Why use real dates - why not just play along and pretend it's still the last millenium? Can you set the time and date manually?

If you want to record something tomorrow and the machine thinks today is 7/13/98, then just set it to record on 7/14/98.

This won't work if the unit is one that sets time automatically from the signal on cable, and you also won't be able to use the VCR Plus+ codes. But if you can set everything up manually, then this should work for you.